It never gets easier, you just get better! By Libby of Advocare

Revelations come at the strangest times. Especially when they are from your kids. Those moments when we realize our kids are growing and becoming more independent. Where I have to let them go and struggle on their own a bit. It started when we decided to go swimming at the Bettendorf Y. I was excited because I love swimming as much as my three little girls. Well....It started out rather frustrating. We go into the locker room and get changed and I realize I brought everyone’s swim suit EXCEPT my own bottoms.... Ugh...After dumping out my bag 3 times hoping they would magically appear, I almost thought about wearing my black boy short underwear BUT (no pun intended) I decided to keep it classy. I had on a tank and yoga pants but felt so bad because I couldn’t get in and play. The girls weren’t too broken hearted so we all headed out and I sat there feeling like the “not wanting to get in the pool mom” but after awhile I got over it. We ended up getting into the deeper end (3 Ft) with life jackets. Bre, who just turned 3 stayed in the more shallow where I could watch her just as close as the twins. Now at this point I start to see that my twins are totally different lovers of water. Bella who is usually more timid, shockingly starts swimming out and paddling on her own while Liv does NOT want anything to do with letting go of the side. I let Bella do her thing happily doggie paddling along. I'm soo soo proud of her because she took it upon herself to “let go” and do

something uncomfortable. We do this for a while and they both even jump in but it’s not until I dare Liv to go swim out and grab the noodles to put away that it gets interesting.  She is perfectly fine floating and trying to get to the edge. There for what seemed like 10 minutes but probably 30 sec starts getting frustrated because she can’t make her way almost to the point of crying. Momma Bear wants to just HELP her and get to the edge because that anxious “my child is in danger mode” kicks in. We get through the moment rather calmly when I tell her to let go of the noodle and just kick to the side (maybe 3 feet away) But to Liv it may have well been 300 feet. What I realize is I sometimes have to let my child struggle to become stronger and learn how to solve her own problems. She was is no danger but still wanted to make is easier for her.
I then think of all my struggles in the past and how incredible they have been to my growth. I was proud of Liv for getting there by herself and I could see after she calmed down and looked at me and said, “I did it!!” excitedly.
Struggle always is for a reason. It never gets easier. You just get better. Jim Rohn.

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Valentine's Day Hair Ideas for every Length! -Krista, Quad City Hair Stylist

Quad Cities Hair Wizard, Krista 

            Ahhh, it’s that time of year again where women crowd around the TV on Sundays to watch what they have been looking forward to since last year.  Sorry guys, it’s not the Super Bowl, it’s award season.  This month’s blog is going to be talking about what we are seeing on the red carpets and how easy it is to transform these looks into everyday styles. Just in time to jazz it up for Valentine’s Day with that special someone. 

            I love how easy, breezy the styles have been so far.  I’m a big fan of less is more, and your style should represent that.  I feel like with a softer style, people can focus more on your natural beauty instead of focusing on your over hairsprayed, over backcombed, and over curled style.   You want all eyes on you, not just your hair.  I’m going to go over 5 styles that are easy, trendy, and appropriate for all occasions. 

            My first look is a hairstyle that I lightly talked about last month, which is Jennifer Lawrence.  Once your hair is cut into this style it is very low maintenance.  I’ve been cutting this style on a ton of women!  They all love how easy yet trendy this cut is.  Just a light styling product when wet to give it some volume, and then when dry a texture product to rough it up to bring out the layers in the haircut. Voila!  You’re ready to go. 

            My second style that I am seeing on numerous celebrities this award season has been around forever, and is a timeless style.  It is a classic bun.  This can be worn from the office to cocktails to a wedding, and is just as appropriate for all occasions.  I suggest teasing the hair and pulling it straight back like Mila Kunis did, or doing a deep side part for some added drama into the hair like Emma Roberts and Emma Watson.  When doing this style you can make the bun very clean, or mess it up a little to put a more youthful vibe to it. 

            Our third look to discuss is one that is so simple once your hair is cut like this all you have to do is smile to look good.  It is an asymmetrical bob.  It can be cut at a variety of lengths, and looks great with or without frontal fringe.  This cut can work with all medium hair lengths.  From chin length or collar bone.  My model was inspired by Reese Witherspoon’s haircut but wanted a shorter version of it.  The trick to achieving this fabulous cut is to have the longer part on the opposite side that you part on, or also known as your heavy side.  Then for the finishing touch, tuck the shorter side of your hair.  This will lift and bring out your cheek bone while also showing off the haircut.  I recommend finishing off the style with a shine spray.  This haircut looks best worn down either straight of curls.

 

    One of the top trends right now is to wear your hair with a loose wave.  This can either be down with a curling iron or a flat iron. Next month’s blog will go over how exactly to style your hair to achieve the perfect wave.  An easy way to up the ante on this already crazy popular style is to push it over the should to one side.  This style is best achieved with those who have longer hair (hair that is passed the shoulder).  All you have to do is style hair into desired texture, and then push the non- heavy side of your hair behind your shoulder, or push it all over to the other shoulder.  Make sure you use a  flexible hold hairspray to ensure that the curls stay in place!  You are ready for your night out on the town.

 

            Our last look that I’m going to touch base on this month is another fancier way to wear those loose waves that we are all already wearing.  This style is good at any length, and will instantly add drama to your hair.  I recommend curling hair with a curling iron.  Start with a deep side part, and make sure you are using a heat protectant because you are putting heat on the hair.  We don’t want to be damaging our beautiful locks. Once hair is curled, you want to insert comb into curls starting at the bottom and push upward in a vertical direction, to create a tighter curl.  This adds fullness at the bottom of that hair and gives a more glamours look to the hair.  If you want more glamourous look like the picture on the left, curl hair and DO NOT run fingers through curls before combing upward.  If you want a messier, tousled look, you would curl your hair.  Then DO break apart curls with fingers before combing each section of curls upward.

            That’s my blog for this month. I hope you all enjoyed it, and this helps you come up with some new, easy ways to style your hair no matter what length of hair you have.   Until next month, I hope everyone stays warm and fashionable. 

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Eyebrow 101 with Brittany Chevelle, Quad City Make up Artist

One of the biggest beauty trends right now is full, natural brows. Say good-bye to those over-plucked, thin brows. Thick is in! And for good reason too.

Full brows give the illusion of a more youthful appearance; but they also frame your face, and accentuate your makeup.

You may be growing your brows out as you read this, and if so, I highly recommend visiting a brow expert/brow bar to give you a natural-full shape. In the meantime, here’s a quick an easy way to fill your brows in and fake a full look!

 First, decide if you are more comfortable using a brow pencil or brow powder. Typically, brow powders will give you a softer, natural look and are great for filling in sparse brows. I prefer to use both products because the pencil will give a clean precise line, whereas the brow powder gives a diffused look. When picking out colors, if you are blond, choose a color that best matches your roots. Generally, two shades darker than your hair color. If you have brunette or black hair, I recommend choosing a color that best matches your hair color, or even one shade lighter. You don’t want to look like Oscar the Grouch! ;)

Additionaly, will also need: an angled brow brush, spoolie (brow brush, or you can use a new toothbrush), concealer and highlight power.

Before you begin to fill in your brows, you need to determine your natural shape. So grab your brow pencil and brow brush, and stand in front of a mirror. First, to find the start of your eyebrows, place the brow brush vertically, against the edge of your nose, from nostril up to your brow. Then, using the brow pencil draw a small light dot. That is where your brow should begin. Next, to find the arch of your brow, place the angled brush again on the outer edge of your nostril, angled upwards and out, lining up just with the outer part of your pupil. Again, make a small dot just at the top of your brow. To find where your brows should end, you will use the brow brush to line up the edge of your nostril, with the outer corner of your eye. Place a small dot at the end.  Repeat with other eye.

Grab your brow pencil, and underline the underside of your brows. This part should be more defined. Then, using the arch point you found earlier, draw from the dot, down to connect with the end of the underside line.  You should now have the outer part of your brow out-lined. Next, take your brow pencil and using the powder, begin to fill in the out-lined area, using light brush strokes. Gradually,shading  the pigment into the inner part of your brow. If you need to add more brow powder to the start of your brows, be sure that tap off any excess. You do not want this area to be to dark, or harsh. Then, using a spoolie, begin to brush through your brows to blend the colors.

You may skip this next part, but to get that precise, groomed brow look, I like to use a lighter concealer to the underside of my brows to finish off the look.This will highlight the brow bone and give a nice clean brow line. You may also add a shimmery highlighter to the brow bone to really make it pop!

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Urban Decay NAKED3 Palette Tutorial by Brittany Chevelle, Quad City Make up Artist

I had many request to do a Naked 3 look, so here it is!! I used my shadow brush to apply DUST all over the lid, then STRANGE from my crease to browbone. Then used a blending brush to apply LIMIT in the crease, and a crease brush to apply NOONER to the outer V.

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What your missing in your night time skincare routine. By Brittany C., Quad City Makeup Artist

Please read previous post on my recommendations for daytime skincare routines that you should be doing.

As for your night routine:

Many women tell me that they forget to cleanse their skin, and remove their makeup at night. I will tell you that this one of  the worst thing you can do for your skin. It will cause your skin to age faster. Who wants that?  So here's my trick. Try showering at night, and cleanse your face in the shower. Or, once you get into your pajamas and before you get onto that cumfy couch, go cleanse your face! :) Once you sit down and relax, the chances you are going to get up and do your night time regime are slim to none.

1. Cleanse. Thoroughly. Once to remove all that makeup. Then again. Yep, cleanse twice to really get your skin and pores clean.

2. Always. Eye. Cream. :)

3. Next is your serum. This can be the same serum as your a.m. product, or a different product. Again, it all depends on what improvements you want to see in your skin. Most likely, you will use a Retinol, Retin-A, or some form of retinoid anti-aging product. If you are older than 25. then your skin has already began the aging process and it is a great idea to invest in these products.

4. And at last, your moisturizer. Make sure to use one sans-SPF, since you will not be needing this product at night. Most people like to use a heavier cream at night time, since your skin can lose a lot of moisture while sleeping.

Your skin naturally protects itself during the day, and repairs at night. It is so important to give those skin cells the moisture it needs to repair from any damage incurred during the day.

Treatments such as: maskes and exfoliation can be done daily, every couple of days, or once a week. Be sure to know what skin type you have and buy accordingly. If you don't know, or are unsure, many spas and medi-spas offer free skin exams and consultations.

Remember, that every persons' skin is difference so invest in products that suit your skin-type and your skin concerns. 

Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions or comments, please post here or on my site at www.facebook.com/brittanychevellemakeupartist

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Lindsay's Hair Before and After (Going Blonde Ombre )

I need new hair!!!

I get so bored with my hair! I know, I have kept it long and blonde forever, my fault, I get it. Buuuut, I never really loved the idea of going darker, or shorter for that matter. Well recently Carly and I had the privilege to meet a great hair dresser. Her name is Krista and she has years of experience. I put my trust in her and let her have at this mess I was calling my hair. Ahhh! A little scary for me but, I did indeed let her go shorter and darker...and I love it!

My before, long, split-ends, grown out blonde...blah!

My after.

We did an Ombre look this time around. Krista did a dark all over color and added some brighter blonde highlights back in in all the right spots. We also took off a good 6-8inches of length. Phew!

In addition to the great cut and color, Krista also directed me to some products that I love! I ended up taking home a dry shampoo and a dry oil both by Bamboo. The dry shampoo is amazing! I can easily go 3days without shampooing in the shower. You just spray it at your roots before styling, rub it in and go on with your usual routine. It also adds some much needed volume for me. Gotta love it when day 2 hair looks better than day 1! The dry oil is a tie with the dry shampoo for favs. It adds a ton of shine and tames and frizz I am fighting all without making my hair greasy in the least.

Krista's business page (she also owns a spray tan business!) 

You should "Like" her page and tell her TCOT sent ya!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simply-Bronze-Airbrush-Tanning/160549794024183

Here is her personal page:

https://www.facebook.com/krista.r.leigh?fref=ts

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Libby's 4 truths and a lie

Libby's 4 truths and a lie

1.) I had a pet turtle named Leonard, but he ran away.
2.) I played volleyball through college and was all conference, all regional player.
3.) I am always at least 30 minutes early wherever I go.
4.) When I was a kid I played outside and my friends were cats.
5.) I miss my girls like crazy when they are at their Dads and for the first day I don't knew what to do with myself...

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Welcome Kelcy of Sweekit Photography-QCA Photographer

Meet Kelcy with Sweekit Photography

I have sat down to write this blog post several times now and why does it always seem so hard to write about yourself? I just don't get it! Nobody knows me better than myself and yet I can't seem to find the words to describe myself! I guess in retrospect, that is a good thing!

So here goes nothing- I will start out with my family! I am married to my hubby, Andy for almost 5 years this upcoming Spring and we have 3 beautiful kids together! Mason is my oldest and he is four. Myla is two and a half and Aspen just turned 5 months old! Each of them have their funny and unique personalities that just brighten my life. Luckily, I am blessed to have a supportive husband that allows me to pursue my dreams so I can stay home with them every day! ( PS: I think I am busier staying at home with three kids, four yrs old and under than when I had a full time job, I'm sure those of you with littles reading this can relate:)

 By "trade" per se, I am not a photographer. I graduated from Iowa State University with degrees in Agricultural Communications and Communication Studies. All of my full time jobs in the past have been sales/marketing for Agricultural Companies. Although I loved each and every one of my jobs, I love children and babies MORE!

When I had my son, my husband was serving in Iraq and the only way for him to get to know Mason was through pictures. I took pictures everyday and emailed them to my husband. This was when I decided to start my own family blog so my husband could see how he was growing and be part of the stages he was going through. I had always had a love for photography and at that point in my life, I knew it was something I wanted to do forever. I enrolled in Photography classes and signed up for workshops. I worked hard to grow my client base and now I call myself a "professional." I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do and I love each of my clients as I do my own family.

I will be contributing monthly posts as the TCOT blog's photographer. I have so many ideas and advice to make sure your pictures are perfect!

Also, you can visit my website here: www.sweekitllc.com

or my fb page here: www.facebook.com/sweekitllc

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